So Said The Promised Messiah (as) — Page 11
KEEP YOURSELF IN READINESS Look at the Companions of the Holy Prophet, sallallaho alaihi wa sallam; is it because they were the lovers of luxurious lives that they won a victory against their opponents ? No, it was not so. Even. in the previous scriptures it is mentioned that these people would be the worshippers of God during the night and they would be fasting during the day. They spent their nights in the remembrance of God. The following verse of the Holy Quran describes their life in full details: wa min ribaatil khaili turhiboona bihee aduwwatlahi wa aduwwakum and ya ayyohallazeena aamanusbiroo wa saabiroo wa rabitoo. You should ·keep your horses on the borders tied and in readiness so that your opponents may be frightened by this preparation of yours. 0 you who believe, you should be patient and you should be prepared. The word Ribaat is used for the horses which are tied on the borders in readiness (for an attack). God the Almighty commands the believers to keep themse. lves in readiness to defend themselves against the attack of the enemy and this word Ribaat is used by Him to draw their attention that ' they have to be in perfect readiness. There were two duties that had been assigned to them:. to face the enemy and. to struggle for the spiritual upliftment. The lexicons tell us that Ribaat means one's self as well as the human heart. Here it is interesting to note that only such horses· can prove useful as are well trained and well groomed. Now a days they (the horses) are trained the same way as the children are trained-with great care. If they are not trained they would not prove useful in the least, rather they would become harmful and dangerous. It also indicates that the human beings (ribaat) should also be well educated and their capacities should be such as 11